Means for cooling photomechanical printing plates



March 2 1926. 1,574,849

F. T. POWERS MEANS FOR COOLING PHOTOMECHANICAL PRINTING PLATES Filed March 31, 1921 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 2 1926. 1,574,849

F. T. POWERS MEANS FOR COOLING PHOTOMECHANICAL PRINTING PLATES Filed March 31 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4a jz 50 Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

* UNITED "STATES PAT N FF-rce.

TRAN K T. POVIERS, OF NEW YORK, N.

MEANS :FOER COGLING. PHGTOMEGHANIGAL PRINTING PLATES.

npplicationfiledMarch 31, 1921. .Serial No. 457,381.

To all whom it. may concern:

Be it known that .I, FRANK "1. Pownns,

. a citizen of the United- States, residing in the city and State of New York, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Means forCoolin-g Photomechanical Printing Plates, of which "the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a novel device or mechanism for cooling photo-mechanical. printing plates, and more especially to-a novel device or mec'hanlsm for'cooling such the plate. Objects and. advantages of the inventlon will be set'forth inpart'hereinafter and in part Will'be obvious herefron or may "be learned bypractice with theinventlon, .the

same being realized and attainedbvmeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention con'sists'in'the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred 'to herein and constituting a ,parthereo'f, illustrate oneembo'diment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention 7 :Of the drawings: 7

Fig.1 is a vertical centralseot'ion through a cooling device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentarytop plan of one form ofplate support, and having passages for the cooling'fluid, these devices being of the same form as'is shown inig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, corresponding,generally to the upper part of Fig. 1, but showing a somewhat different form of mechanism for actuating and controlling the cooling 'fluid, andshow'ing also a differentform ofplate supporting means;

Fig. i is a detached, fragmentary top plan, on an enlarged scale, of the form o1 plate support and fluid passages shown in Fig. 3; f I

Fig. his a vertical section'taken on the line 55.ofFig. 4;;

Fig. 6 is a plan,'like Fig. 2, but. showing upon the supports.

a different arrangement ofthe'fiuidpassing orifices;

Fig7 bears a like relation to Fig. 1:; Fig. Shears a like relation to Fig.3 5 and Fig. 9'is a central, vertical sectionfof a form of mechanismin whichtheplate sup-.

portis movable into and out of thefluid in the reservoir.

Photo-mechanical printing plates .are made usually from alplate of copper .or otherisuitable metal, whichis usuallyrela- 'tively thin as compared to "the .ordinary height or types or plates for printing presses, and during the ,process of making these plates, they are, subjected to :heat, as His in the welliknown 'enamell process.

'desirable'to cool the heated plate rapidly and vat'the same time to'have the cooling means withln the control of f the workman,

,so that he may accurately vary and control the duration and degree ofthe application of the cooling fluid to any particular plate.

Inthe present preferred embodiment of this inventiom'plate supporting means are provided comprising arelatively large numher of plate supports of. comparatively small area with respect tolthe area ofthephotomechanical plate, these .supports"being separated from each other .but in close proximity to each-other, andbetween such supplurality of'plate supporting members al-,

ready referred to. As shown these consist of upwardlyprojecting, relatively narrow ridges or flanges 2, extending upwardly from the base plate -1. These supports are ports are passages "for the cooling fluid topreferably of circular or annular form, as 2 best aaaears from F1. 2 these circles or annuli being preferably concentric and spaced apart, the; fluid. passagesfithrough the base 1 being located .therebetween. The base plate 1 is shown of rectangular form,

and the exterior supports 2, near the corners of base 1, are segments concentric with the other supporting members 2. In the spaces 3, between the supporting members 2, there are in the base 1 a plurality of orifices 4, through which the cooling fluid flows to and from the plate to be cooled.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 a different form of plate suporting means is shown. In these figures a base plate'7 is provided, and projecting upwardly therefrom are a plurality of pins or fingers 8, upon which the photomechanical plate is supported during the cooling operation, these studs or fingers 8 having relatively small supporting surfaces, and are spaced apart but closely contiguous to each other, and interspersed or interposed between the supports are passages 9 through the base 7, for the passage of the cooling fluid. It will be understood that both these forms of plate supports are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention.

The particular form of means for supplying and controlling the cooling fluid shown herein, so farras concerns certain features thereof, is substantially the same or similar to that shown in my Patent No. 1,373,909, but in other features thereof it is different both as to structure and operation. It will be understood, so far as concerns many features of the invention, that other kinds of controlling means for the cooling fluid may be provided.

In the embodied form of means for supplying and controlling the action of the cooling fluid, and referring now to Figs.

1 and 2, the base 1 of the plate support is seated on a shoulder 12 in a pan 13, so that the base 1 of the support forms a closure over the'lower portion of the pan 1? except for the'fiuid passing orifices 4. The part of the pan 13 beneath the base plate 1 constitutes a fluid chamber 14, and the. normal top level of the cooling fluid will be not higher than the baseplate 1 or 7, or possibly a. little higher or lower. The level of the tops of the supports and the edge ,of the pan will be determined to secure the best practical results. Usually the edge of the pan will be just a little higher than the tops of the supports.

In this embodied form of means for applying to, withdrawing from, and controlling the action of the cooling fluid upon the photo-mechanical plate to be cooled, devices are provided for forcing additional fluid into the fluid chamber 14 and thence through the orifices 4. The bottom 15 of the pan 13, which also constitutes the bot tom of the fluid chamber 14, is provided with an orifice 16, normally closed by a lift valve 17, which is guided and held in place by a guide 18, projecting downwardly from the bottom of the base 1, and working between guiding members 19 and 20 formed on the valve. Beneath or. otherwise adjacent to the fluid chamber 14 are the means for forcing the cooling fluid into the chamber 14. As embodied, an expansible and contractible fluid driving chamber 24, the top thereof being the bottom 15 of the chamber 14, and the side walls thereof formed by an annular rim 25, extending downwardly from 15, is operated by the workman to control the action of the cooling fluid. The bottom of the chamber 24 consists of a flexible diaphragm 26, movable to change the size or volume of the chamber, to effect the fluid flow into the chamber 14. Onficcs 38 111 the Wall of the pan 13 discharge the wa ter from the pan.

In connection with the foregoing a tank or reservoir is preferably provided for a permanent supply of the cooling fluid, the device being thus independent of hydrant or other water connection, if desired, and also readily movable from place to place as found convenient. As embodied, this tank 27 surrounds and supports the mechanism and devices already described. The bottom 23 of the tank has a central opening in which the diaphragm 26 is located, the edges of the diaphragm being secured between the bottom flange of the part 25 and the edge of the tank about the orifice, by rivets, bolts, or other suitable clasping means 29, to form a fluid-tight connection.

The embodied form of actuating means for the diaphragm 26 are foot operated,

thereby leaving the hands of the workman entirely free. As embodied, a plate 30 preferably of somewhat spheroidal form is located beneath the diaphragm 26 and a rod 31 extends downwardly from the plate. This rod is pivotally connected at its bottom end 32 to a foot lever 33, which is pivotally supported at '34. A strap, bracket or pan 35 is fastened to the bottom of the tank 27, and is apertured to serve as a guide for the rod 31. Av one-way valve 36 of suitable form, is located in the wall 25, to permit the inflow of water or other cooling fluid from the tank 27 into the chamber 24.

In operating the device, the photo-mechanical printing plate to be cooled is supported in part or entirely upon the plate supports, and the workman places his foot upon the pedal 33, and forces the plate 30 and diaphragm 36 upwardly, forcing the water from chamber 24 through the orifices in the plate support and against the under side of the plate. The beginning of this motion is shown in Fig. 1, which shows the valve 17 open and the valve 36 closed. lVhen pedal 33 is released, plate 30 and diaphragm 26 descend, and valve 36 opens and valve 17 closes, the cooling fluid during such movement flowing in from the tank 27 into the chamber 24. The beginning of this movement is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

When the valve 17 isemployed, spilling orifices 38 will permit the waterto flow from above the base plate'l back into the tank 27, but at a rate which willnot interfere with the supply of cooling-fluidto the plate by the action of the foot lever 33. If; desired, the valve 17 may be dispensed with, in which case the .spillingorifices 38 maynalsobesdispensed with.

In Fig. 3 a somewhat different form of the actuatingand controlling means for the cooling fluid is shown. In this form, the valve 17 is omitted. The chamber 24 is contracted to drive the cooling fluid upwardly into contact with the plate to be cooled, and the subsequent expansion of the chamber draws the fluid directly downward by the same way it went up. The orifices 38 in this case are unnecessary, and the tank 27 merely provides a reserve supply or larger volume of the cooling liquid, as the water is not discharged thereinto from the pan 13. The valve 36 may be operated by hand if desired to control or equalize the quantity or level of water between tank 27 and the fluid chambers 24 and 145.

With this mechanism the workman can, by the distance and duration of the foot movement, accurately control the rise of the liquid against the plate, the duration of the contact of the cooling liquid with the plate, and the withdrawal of the liquid from the level of contact, either to terminate the cooling of a given plate, or in preparation for the quick substitution of a subsequent plate in cooling position. The level of the cooling liquid can be very quickly lowered. There is thus provided a very nicely adjusted and controlled: and a very rapidly operating plate cooling mechanism. i

In Figs. 6 and 7 a mechanism is: shown of the same general construction as that of Figs. 1 and 2, already described, but difierent therefrom in certain of its features. In Figs. 6 and 7, the annular supports 2 have their tops at or substantially at the level of the top edge of the pan 13, and the discharge orifices 38 are omitted, the discharge of the cooling fluid in this case being over the edge of the pan 13 into the reservoir or tank 27. The openings 4; are also shown located only in the central part of the bottom of the pan 13.

In Fig. 8 a pan is shown having plate supports of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but in Fig. 8 the tops of the supports 3 are substantially level with the edge of the pan 13. The openings 9 are located only in the central part of the. bottom of pan 13.

In Fig. 9 a modified construction is shown, in central vertical section, wherein the plate supporting devices are vertically movable to and fro within the fluid reservoir to effect and control the action of the cooling fluid upon the plate. In the em- Figs. ,1 and -3)1isprovided, having plurat ity of plate supporting members 41, extending upwardly from its bottom. The bottom .is provided with fluid ;p ass'i-ng orifices 39. The pan 40 is pivotally hung from theinnereendsiof agplurality of levers a2 and43, preferablyxin pairs at opposite sides thereof.

. Theipairsf of levers e2 an'df13 are pivotally mounted, respectively, at 44 and 45 on the top edges of a tank or reservoir 46. Connected to the outer ends of the levers i l and 45, respectively, are pivoted rods 47 and 48, which rods are also pivoted, respectively, to arms 49 and 50, fixed to shafts 51 and 52, journaled on the frame.

To operate this mechanism, as embodied, an arm 53 is fixed to shaft 50 and an arm 54: is fixed to shaft 51, and these arms are connected together by a pivoted link 55. A spring 56 is connected in tension between rod 55 and the machine frame to maintain the plate support 40 in its elevated position as shown in Fig. 9.

The device is preferably foot operated so as to leave the hands of the workman free. As embodied, an arm 57 is fixed to shaft 51., and a link 58 is pivoted to arm 57 Link 58 is pivoted at 59 to a foot lever 60, which is pivotallymounted at 61. A stop 62 cooperates with spring 56 to position the plate support 40 in its elevated position.

The manner of operating will be clear. By pressing pedal 60, the workman depresses pan or support d0, against spring 56, and thus can accurately and quickly control the action of the cooling fluid, passing through the orifices 39, upon the plate to be cooled as it rests upon supports 41. When the workman releases the lever 60, the plate support and the plate are elevated out of the cooling fluid. The fluid openings could be located elsewhere than in the bottom of the support.

It will be understood that all the modifications and variations in form shown and described are exemplary, and are not restrictive of the invention, and that other changes may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. A device for cooling photo-mechanical printing plates including a base plate pro vided with openings therein and having thereon a plurality of upstanding,spaced apart plate supports with open, unobstructed space thereabove, and means for causing a cooling fluid to pass through the openings in said base plate.

2. A device for cooling photo-mechanical printing plates including a base plate provided with openings therein and having thereon a plurality of upstanding, spaced apart plate supports having their upper ends terminating in the same substantially horizontal plane with open, unobstructed space thereabove, and means for causing a cooling fluid to pass through the openings in said base plate.

3. A device for cooling photo-mechanical printing-plates including, in combination, a pan having open, unobstructed space thereabove and having a foraminate bottom and also having thereon a plurality of small, upstanding, spaced apart plate supports close ly adjacent to each other, and means for supplying cooling fluid to said pan and for varying the level of said cooling fluid Within said pan to control its cooling action on said plate.

In testimony whereof, I have signed name to this specification.

FRANK T. POIVERS. 

